New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said the only payment state and municipal workers should get for not being sick, is not being sick. Christie made the comments in a town hall meeting last week in a swipe at Democrats in the state legislature over sick time for state and municipal workers.

Christie has pushed to abolish the practice allowing public employees to accrue unused sick days and get paid for days they didn't use. The practice has sometimes resulted in strains on local budgets when long-time workers retire and cash in hundreds of days of unused sick time.

At the town hall meeting, the Republican governor said the state was liable for an accumulated $825 million in unused sick days.

Christie wants to provide sick pay only to those who are sick. "If you are fortunate enough not to get sick, the payment you get is not being sick," the governor said.
"And you should get on your knees and thank God that you weren't sick, and it shouldn't be all that complicated."

Last year, Christie vetoed a bill that would have capped payouts for accumulated sick time at $15,000 per worker. Democrats in the legislature came back this month with a cap at $7,500.

"While the governor has grandstanded the past year, and argued about whether it should be $15,000 for employees or $0, he has cost these municipalities money," Sen. Paul Sarlo told the Associated Press.

Christie told reporters the latest legislation would still ultimately cost the state and municipalities $3.25 billion, and says it doesn't represent a compromise.

Christie disappointed some Republicans earlier this year when he said he was not interested in running for president. However, Politico reports that Christie told Fox News he would be "presumptuous” to rule out a run as vice president. Christie has endorsed Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination.

What do you think? should government workers be able to accumulate unused sick time? Leave your comments below.